Abel Jussiaume 78 eme RI

Part of a collection of documents relating to a soldier of the French 78th Infantry Regiment, Abel Jussiaume. The documents indicate that he spent his national service (1933-35) with the 2nd Zouaves at Oran, Algeria. He was mobilised in August 1939, immediately prior to the outbreak of war.

The 78th Infantry Regiment along with two others, formed 24th Infantry Division, part of the 5th Army. In May 1940 they were acting as interval troops, between the main Maginot Line fortifications on the Franco-German border. By June, subsequent to the Dunkirk evacuation, Abel's regiment found itself thrown into the maelstrom of battles around the River Somme. There Abel's war ended. His unit was effectively destroyed and wounded in the hand, he was captured and hospitalised on the 7th June 1940. He spent the rest of the war in Stalag IVB and IVC and was liberated by advancing British troops in April 1945.